The Wire with Sara

This week on Green Desk, Wire Host Sara takes a deep-dive into the environmental issues surrounding the proliferation of AI technology, particularly in New Zealand.

In the context of Luxon’s recent announcement about a $7.5 billion investment by Amazon Web Services into data centres in New Zealand, alongside the rapid adoption of generative AI in sectors across the country, academics have raised concerns about the environmental impact of the growth of this industry.

Last year, University of Waikato’s Dr Amanda Turnbull co-published an article about how New Zealand is outsourcing the “risks and costs” of AI and data centres, highlighting the water and resource consumption of global reliance on data centres and AI. 

Sara spoke with Dr Amanda Turnbull about her concerns relating to AI’s environmental impact and how the New Zealand government should be responding to the ever-expanding industry.

Following the interview with Turnbull, Sara was interested in exploring how businesses are confronting the issue of AI, especially as it becomes more integral to work. Layer3’s Solution Director Daniel Bohan published an article earlier this year scrutinising the confusing data surrounding the water footprint of AI. Sara spoke with Bohan more about how businesses and consumers should engage with AI and better understand the environmental impacts. 
She start by asking about how he engaged with AI in his mahi

This week on the Monday Wire:

For our weekly catch-up with the ACT Party, News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to MP Simon Court about this weekend’s Palestine rally, the ‘March for Humanity’ and Regulations Minister, David Seymour, not ruling out changes for the labelling on alcohol, nicotine, and tobacco products.

Thursday Wire Host Caeden, Thursday Producer Sanat, and Tuesday Wire Host Sara interviewed participants at Saturday’s ‘March for Humanity’ as well as Aotearoa for Palestine organiser Nadine Mortaja.

Joel spoke to Emma Anderson, a PhD Candidate at the Bioethics Centre at the University of Otago, about a recent study she was the lead author in, showing New Zealand news media’s coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic having nationalistic and ‘us versus them’ elements in its reporting.

Producer Alex spoke with the University of Otago’s Robert Patman about recent Russian drone incursions in Poland, and what they mean for NATO and the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

And Alex also spoke to The University of Otago’s Michael Holland about artists leaving spotify, and the issues with the platform.

Whakarongo mai.

A study from the University of Otago, looking into how New Zealand news coverage depicted the country’s responses to the Covid-19 pandemic, has shown elements of nationalism and creating a sense of competition.

News and Editorial Director and Monday Wire Host, Joel, spoke to Emma Anderson, a PhD Candidate at the Bioethics Centre at the University of Otago, about the study and the harmful consequences of this framing.

On Saturday, tens of thousands of people joined the ‘March for Humanity’ in Tāmaki Makaurau. The protestors were calling on the government to sanction Israel over its actions in Gaza.

Producer Sanat and Thursday Wire Host Caeden were at the protest and spoke to rangatahi, politicians, and community members about why they were there.

Tuesday Wire Host Sara also spoke to Aotearoa for Palestine spokesperson Nadine Mortaja about the protest and the movement’s demands for the New Zealand government.